Air rifle



2 Sheets-Sli'eet 1 Sept- 5, 1939. H. scHMElssl-:R

' AIR RIFLE Filed May 21, 1936 w xm wwwwmw Sept. 5, 1939.

H. 'SCHMEISSER AIR RIFLE Filed May 2l! 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 5v, 19.39

UNITED STATES Am RIFLE Hugo Schmeisser, Suhl', Thurlngen,

i Application May 21, 1936, Serial No. 81,098

In GermanyMay 21, 1935 6 Claims.

This invention relates to an. air riiie which is similar in form and manipulation to a military rifle and is set by means of a lever, and it has for its primary object considerably to increase the I force of the rifle, or in other words the force of the compression spring, without at the same time increasing the force necessary for setting the said lever. An additional object of the inventionis tovsimplify, the `coclringor setting mech- 10 anism as regards the number and embodiment of the parts.

According to the; invention the compression spring is cocked by the lever in two 'stages applied rst in one direction to one end of the spring and then in the opposite direction to the other end of the spring.

- The compression spring may comprise two separate parts whereby the advantage is obtained of setting these parts of the spring one after M the rother by the backward and forward movement of the lever. In this'case the one compr'ssion spring, the outer one,v is preferably mounted ina compression sleeve and guided over the air plunger shaft, whilst the second coml5 pression spring, the inner one, is mounted and guided in a bore in the said shaft.

According to the invention, the inner compression spring, with the aid of an interposed pressure member likewise provided in the plunger shaft, is compressed in direct fashion by the movement of the lever out of its rear into the forward position, whilst the outer compression spring is compressed 7upon backward movement of the plunger by means of the lever whereby the spring is compressed between the plunger and an abutment provided in a compression sleeve.

An additional feature of the invention resides l in the action of the said lever and the effect of the setting or cocking operation on the charging 40` .device of the rifle, a rod connected with the lever acting in such fashion on a `rotatable ammunition feed plug provided in the barrel of the rifle that upon withdrawal of the lever the plug is opened and upon the forward movement of the lever the plug is closed.

Additionalifeatures of the invention relate to several different safety means; thus for example to a means for preventingwithdrawal of the lever when the riiie is cocked and to a means for preventing movement of the handle ofthe lever except when the latter is situated in its front initial or ilnal position.

The invention will be described more fully 55 with reference to the accompanying drawings,

Yforms of embodithe riiie being shown in the cocked or set posi- 6 Y tion with the position of the setting means after the preliminary setting operation indicated in broken lines.

Fig. 2 shows the means for preventing backward movement of the lever' when the riiiehas 10 already been cocked or set.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modied form of embodiment'of the invention.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the means shown in- Fig. 2. 1 In the compression sleeve I, which at the front is attached tothe barrel 2, there moves the air plunger 3 with the' shaft 4. About this shaftl .there is located the compression spring 5, which in the relaxed condition is mounted partially, 20 viz., at the end opposite to the air plunger, in

a sleeve 6, which in turn is slidable in the com- `1 pression sleeve I this sliding being bounded 4towards the rear by a pressure sleeve 'I which bears against the end member 8 closing the compres- 25 'sion sleeve at the back.

The setting lever I0, which possesses a grip II, is mounted to rock about a pin 9. This lever is. guided in slots I2 and I3 in the compression y sleeve I andthe shaft l. The lever I0 has a 30 hump or cam i4 on vits .rear face which upon ba'ckward movement of the lever bears against an abutment I5 at the rear end of the slot I3 in the shaft 4. y

There is mounted on a pin I6 provided on the 35 lever l0 a 'thrust finger I1, the front end of which bears continuously against the outer rear face I8 of the sleeve 6 adapted to accommodate i the compression spring 5. In order to prevent the nger Il and the surface I8 from moving out of contact with one another the corresponding contacting portions, as illustrated by way of example, may be curved.

If the lever I0 is pulled back by hand, the same, owing to the fact that its cam 'I4 bears against the abutment' I5 of the shaft 4, also moves back the said shaft and together therewith the plunger 3, resulting in compression of the spring 5 in its sleeve 8, until the. face I8 of this sleeve moves 50 against the pressure sleeve 'I (which is furnished with a slot corresponding with the slots I2 and I3), this being equivalent to the shaft 4 reaching its rearmost position. In this position the trigger member I9 engages a collar 20 on the 55 shaft t, so that the latter is secured against movement towards the front.`

Upon the subsequent forward movement of the lever, upon which movement, as alreadystated, the shaft and the plunger remain in the cocked position, the finger l1 presses against the sleeve 6 and accordingly completely compresses the spring 5.

When, therefore, the extreme forward position of the lever I0 has been reached the compression spring 5 has been compressed to full extent. The handle Il of the lever I0 is now moved over towards the right transversely to the axis of the bairel in similar fashion to the manipulation of a military rie.

In addition to the finger l1 there is also mounted on the lever l0, preferably also about the pin i6, a rod 2l, which is connected' with a plug22 provided in the barrel 2. When the rifle has not Vbeen cocked the bore 23 in this plug forms a part shot or the like immediately being able to reach the barrel 2, which in this position of the plug 22 is blocked by the surface 24. Upon the additional compression of the spring 5, i. e., when the setting lever is again moved vtowards the-front, the rod 2l operates the plug 22 until the bore 23 again comes into line with the barrel 2. At the same time in this position the passage from the loading aperture 25 to the barrel is again closed. The air riile is accordingly now set and loaded. n

In the drawings the rifle is shown to be of the `single-loader type. Naturally, however, it may also be constructed as a magazine riiie without necessitating any fundamental variation in -the arrangement above described. It is also possible 'to dispose the plane of movement of the lever I0 in the horizontal instead of the vertical location, which may be found of advantage in certain in# stances. In this connection it will be desirable so to construct the gripll thatV it rests against the stock, yin which mannenthere is obtained a greater.leverage without appreciably impairing the appearance of the rifle. l

In order to prevent the setting lever from being moved,back when the rifle is cocked or set, i. e., has not -been discharged, there is provided a locking pawl 21 pivoted to a small block 28.

This pawl 21 possesses at its front end a laterallydisposed ramp surface 3U projecting within the compression sleeve I into the path of the setting lever I0. Upon the forward movement of the pawl il! for complete compression ofthe spring 5 the setting lever moves against the ramp and accordingly presses the pawl 21 out of the path of lever Il),` against the tension of a spring 3| provided in the block 28 which continuously presses the pawl 21 intothe path of the setting lever I0, so that the lever l0 is able to move past the ramp 30. Immediately the lever I0 has passed the ramp 30 the latter is again returned into the path of the settinglever underthe action of the spring 3| At the same time anose or proiection 32 on the pawl 21 snaps into a groove or recess 33 in the lever l0,the latter thereby being secured against return movement. Upon pressarraosa ing the trigger i9 the shaft 4 springs forward, and at the same time the collar 20 on thisl shaft presses against a projection 34 provided onthe ramp 33 and extending into the path of the shaft 4, causing this pawl 21 to recede against the action ofthe spring 3l, so that the projection 32 again leaves the recess 33 in the settinglever and accordingly releases the setting lever for its withdrawal. A premature engagement of the projection 32 in the recess 33 and accordingly an unintentional locking of the lever i0 in its front position is avoided by the fact that the position of the pawl 21 so that the projection 32 and the recess 33 cannot engage is ensured by the shaft I, which in this position of the setting lever retains the pawl 21 and does not release the same until the setting lever, upon its withdrawal, has already passed the projection 32. This operation is made possible by the oblique mounting'of the parts 21, 28 shown in Fig. 4 due to which downward movement of the pawl 21 withdraws its nose 32 from the notch 33. Y

Further, in order to prevent the grip I on the lever I0 from being rocked transversely to the axis ofthe barrel except in the forward position of the setting lever there is provided a safety means as follows:

In aboring within the lower portion of the setting lever I0 there is situated a 'pin 35, which is pressed continuously upwards by means of a spring, whereby its upper end bears against the lower edge of the 'grip Il, which edge terminates in a straight line, so that upon the rocking movement ofthe grip Il the pin 35 is pressed downwards by the projecting corner in opposition 'to the spring. During themovement of the setting lever towards the rear and again towards the front until shortly behind the extreme front position this pin is rmly supported by .a cam 36 on the finger I1, so that the grip I I cannot be rocked about the hinge connecting it with the lower part of the-setting lever. At that moment when the setting lever again assumes its forward position the pin 35 nolonger bears against the-'cam 36 so that upon the rocking movement of the handle I'I it can enter a recess 31 in the finger I1., 4

In the second form of embodiment as shown in Fig. 3. the feature of distributing the force over the backward and forward movement of the setting lever is shown in its application to a divided Spring.

In the compression sleeve 4i, which at the front joinswith the barrel l2,fthere moves the air plunger 43 with the shaft M. About vthis y shaft 44 there is located alcompression spring 45, whichvis mounted between the plunger 43 and a pressure member 46. The latter bears against a pressure sleeve I1, which thrusts at the rear against the end member closing the com( pression sleeve 4I at the back. I

Within the shaft 4I, on the -side directedl'towards the plunger I3, there are provided a second compression spring 49 and a pressure member 50.

The setting lever 52, which possesses a grip 53, is mounted to rock about a pin. 5l. This lever'is guided in slots54, 55 and 56in the'compres'sion sleeve, the pressure sleeve 41 and the shaft u. The setting lever 52 at the point where upon its backward movement it is loaded by the preslsure of the compression spring 45 is'furnished with a humpior cam 51 which when the lever arrives at its extreme rear position bears against an abutment 53 at the rear end of the slot 55 in the shaft 44. The setting lever 52 has an- 15 other hump or cam I on its front face, which gears against the pressure member 50 withinthe .If the lever 52 is pulled shaft of the plunger.v l

back` by hand, the same, owing to thefact that its cam 5l bears against the abutment 5I of the shaft 44, also moves back the said shaft and together therewith the plunger 4l, the outer compression spring 45 thereby being compressed, i. e., cocked, between the plunger 43 and the pressure disk 46.- InI this way the spring is always compressed and relaxed in the same direction. When the setting lever 52 has reached its rear position shown in the drawings in broken lines, the spring 45 has been fully compressed. In this position the trigger member 60 rests on the collar 5I of the shaft 44, so that the latter and the plunger 43 are secured against movement towards-the front.

Upon the subsequent forward movement of the lever 52, upon which movement, as alreadystated, the shaft 44 and the plunger 43 remain in the cocked position,the cam 59 of the setting i lever 52 presses against the pressure member 50,

the inner compression spring v49 situated in the likewise to prevent the grip 53 of the lever 52 from being rocked transversely to the axis of the barrel except in the forward position ofthe lever the safety meansv is preferably constructed as follows:

Within a boring in the setting lever 52 there is provided a pin 63 which is pressed continuously upwards under theaction of the spring 64, the

same bearing against the straight lower face of the grip 53. Below the pin 63 there is provided a bolt 61, which is shiftable in the transverse 'direction and in the normal position supports the pin 63 by means of an abutment 55. When the setting lever 52 is located in its extreme for; ward position the bolt 61 bears against a surface 68 on the gun stock and is pressed back in Opposition to the spring 55. In this way there is formed a space available for the longitudinal displacement of the pin 53 downwards and into which the pin 63 is able to enter upon the rocking of thegrip 53 by reason of the projecting corner at its lower edge.

In every other position of the grip, i. e., upon the backward and forward movement, the pin 63 ments towards the rear and towards the front,

a handle hinged to said lever capable of turning laterally thereto` and means for preventing turning fof the said handle on the lever except in the extreme forward position of the lever, the said means comprising a pin adapted to' slide within the said lever' upon turning of the handle, a cam supporting the said pin. and a recess in the said cam situated below the pin in the extreme forward position of the lever.

2. In an air rifle, a compression spring adapted to producethe 4force oi' discharge, a leve'r for compressing the said spring in two successive movements towards the rear and towards the front, ahandle hinged to said lever capable of turning laterally thereto and means for prevent'- ing turning of the handle except in the extreme forward position of the lever, the vsaid means comprising a pin adapted to slide within the said lever when the handle is turned, a spring acting on the said pin, and a spring-controlled bolt act- `ing as a support for the said pin.

and shaft, means wherebythev spring means is cocked partlyby rearward movement and'partly by forward movement of said lever, the said two cooking operations being effected upon opposite ends of said spring means, an intermediate hinge in the cocking lever enabling its outermost part forming a handle to be turned with respect to .the inner part transversely to the direction of pivoting of the lever, and means for preventing such turning of the handle except when the lever is in forward position.

4. In an air rie, a compression sleeve, an air plunger-in said sleeve, a shaft extending rearwardly of the plunger, compession spring means for operating the plunger, a sleeve slidable in the compression sleeve and fully containing 'said spring means when cocked and partly containing said spring means when uncooked, a lever for cooking the spring means, said lever being pivotable rearwardly and forwardly about an axis outside said sleeve and guided in slots in the 4sleeve and shaft, an abutment on the plunger shaft whereby the spring means is cocked partly by rearward movement of the lever, a thrust finger carried by the cooking lever and bearing against the spring means containing sleeve in the forward movement of the cooking lever to complete the cooking of said spring means, the said two cocking operations being eiected upon opposite ends of said spring means, an intermediate'hinge in the cooking lever enabling its outermost part forming a handle to be turned with respect to the inner part transversely to the direction of pivoting of the lever, and means for preventing such turning of the handle except. when the lever is in. forward position, said preventing means including a spring operated sliding member in the cooking lever cooperating with a cam surfacev on,

the thrust nger.

5. In an air rifle, an vair plunger and shaft,

. spring means operating on said plunger to produce the force of discharge, a lever for compressing the said spring means in two successive movements towards the rear and towards the front, and means for preventing rearward movement o f said lever when the spring means "is compressed, said means including a spring pressed pawl extending obliquely into the path of the lever and arranged to yield to allow the lever to pass the pawl in its forward movement but then toV engage and hold the lever in its forward position, said pawl having a ramp surface cooperating with the plunger shaft when the ride is fired to disengage the pawl from the lever.

6. In an air rifle, a compression sleeve, an air plunger in said sleeve, a shaft extending rear- I64 below said sleeve and extending-upwardly through and guidedr in slots in thesleeve and shaft, means whereby the spring means is cocked in two substantial stages by successive rearward land forward movements oi said lever, the saidtwo cocking operations being applied rst to one end only and then to the other end only of said spring means, means automatically put'out of action on g the rie for preventing rearward movement of the coc lever when the second cocking operation lis completed, said preventing means including apawl mounted outy of the path or travel of the cocking lever but with its nose mov, able into and out of said path, the lever -having a notch engaging said nose to lock the'lever in forward position when the spring means is cocked,

and the pawl having a ramp surface cooperating with a projection on the ,plunger shaft to disengage the nose from the notch at the end of the forward movement of the shaft when the rie is HUGO SCHLIEISSER. 

